B.C. Legislature Tables Mental Health Proposal

The Broome County Legislature has indefinitely tabled a proposal that would keep the county's mental health clinic open for at least 2 more years.

The Broome County Legislature has indefinitely tabled a proposal that would keep the county's mental health clinic open for at least two more years.

The out-patient clinic, located in downtown Binghamton, is slated to close in the coming months and clients are being referred to private providers.

The number of people it services has been cut in half and now stands below 600.

The county is looking at saving money and has said it's not financially capable of paying its employees what other providers do.

Democratic Minority Leader on the legislature, Jason Garnar, says the services are needed and the county should spend the money to keep it open.

"We made cuts to the mental health clinic. There's no doubt, just like we've made cuts to other departments. But, enough is enough," he said.

"We have to look at the budget. We have to look at the effects of this. We have some department heads who have some ideas. There are tough decisions that need to be made," said Majority Leader Ron Keibel.

The legislature will soon start working on putting together next year's budget.

Next week, NewsChannel 34 will introduce you to the three new legislators that were sworn in.

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